Rain has ceased her assault for now,
broken records shattered faith
in weather patterns, and how!
Streets flooded and gardens submerged.
Waves above plants crested and surged.
Climate change shows the fruitless folly
of distracted senses unable to observe
nothing that matters more
then destructive weather battering the door.
Mother Nature refuses to give up on us,
On Earth’s survival and our own.
She bellows and blows
to drive her message home.
The nihilism of our young is no surprise
as they watch all they knew of truth and honor die.
The hopefulness of youth also decries
the callow acceptance of loss
by ancient leaders who fail to count the cost
as their years surmount their reason
in their final season.
Time to allow youth its voice
and watch them lead us forward
to a better choice.
Allow youth to set aside
the greedy old clinging to their wealth;
as if wealth, not life, is the real prize.
Stay strong young sons and daughters.
These old bones are counting on you
to laugh and love, to plant and grow
a world much better than we have left behind.
I salute you and offer you
all the wisdom you can unwind
from old codgers
with weak limbs, but loving minds.
annarino writes 